Reps, SEC in fresh row over Sallah gifts

A fresh crisis of confidence has broken out between members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Capital Market and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over Sallah gifts.

Members are demanding investigation into how the SEC allegedly spent millions of naira on rams.

The SEC had offered rams to the lawmakers but they rejected them and told the SEC bearer to tell the Director-General, Ms Aruma Oteh, to quit her job.

It was learnt that the Committee has reported the “curious offer of rams” to the leadership of the House.

A member of the committee said: “The SEC came to us in an unprecedented gesture because it had never sent any gift to us during festive periods.

“The commission sent a delegation to offer us rams, which we rejected.

“We simply told the leader of the delegation to tell the DG, Ms Oteh, to pack her things and go.

“That clearly to us was attemptted bribe. It was the same way the commission attempted to give us N30million and later turned against us that we demanded a bribe.

“This is a confirmation that the DG is desperate to remain in office.

“We refused her gifts; we are standing by the resolution of the House that she should leave that seat.”

Another member said: “What evidence does President Goodluck Jonathan need to confirm that SEC funds are being spent on frivolous projects?

“We have informed the leadership of the House about the development.

“We hope they will draw the attention of the Executive to this financial recklessness.

“Nigerians are complaining about the slow recovery of the capital market, yet SEC has votes for rams.

“We suspect that the purchase of the rams might run into millions again.

“As we are talking, they are still begging us to come and collect the rams.”

A third member said: “You can imagine the level of waste in SEC.

“Is it its business to buy rams at a time many people have died as a result of the collapse of the Capital Market? We want the Executive to look into this.”

But the DG’s Communication Adviser, Obi Adindu, said the commission did not offer the rams as bribes to House members.

He said: “The fact is that the leadership of SEC is operating a well-known zero tolerance policy for misconduct and that is why strengthening of the Capital Market is a key line objective of the reform agenda.

“It is a reform agenda already bearing fruits given the All-Share Index appreciating by 30 per cent between June and now.

“On the issue of Sallah gifts, there is an established practice in the commission in which the commission extends felicitations to well-wishers.

“Such issues does not belong in the public domain. It is not a SEC-only practice or tradition.

“And putting such matter in the public domain may well be an attempt to undermine lawmakers.

“What is important is that SEC has utmost respect for members of the House and we extend traditional courtesy and felicitations to them.

“And we will absolutely not associate with any effort aimed at reducing their integrity threshold or undermining them.”

I LOVE THIS. IT IS A WELL KNOW FACT THE THE LOWER HOUSE IS THE STRONGEST ARM OF GOVERNMENT DIRECTLY REFLECTING THE YEARNING AND ASPIRATION OF THE PEOPLE PLS TELL MADAM SEC TO TRY TO BRIBE SENATORS NOT HOUSE OF REPS MEMBERS BECAUSE HOUSE OF REP MEMBERS HAVEN’T LOST THERE INTEGRITY YET. GO AND EAT YOUR RAM MADAM SEC

Gummi

Is GOOD to be GOOD lower chamber reject anything that is unlowerful to you

GAZA

which lower chambers be saints? na bc sec indicted some of their members, they no go open up for the agencies they accepted rams from. make una no de launder una image cheaply and falsely.

tope

This nation will not stop to amaze the world. Someone accuses you of asking for bribe in the clearest form possible instead of providing alibis and evidence that you or any member of your so called senate comittee asked for bribe, you have the guts to open your mouth and say “eh they’ve come again o…offering us bribe like they always do o” . Dear senators and reps cover your faces in shame and drag your legs slowly to work! Because the whole world is watching! And I tell you, you don’t look a bit innocent of all charges against you